Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

In a black Mercedes.

Luke sat in the driver's seat and yawned.

He had investigated Orty's situation; her fingerprints were not on file with the police system.

As for the license plate number, it wasn't registered under Orty's name either, so Luke didn't get many valuable clues, which was why he asked John and Afra to help check this woman's background.

A police car pulled over next to him, and John stepped out of the vehicle and tapped on Luke's window.

Luke rolled down the window, "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

"No, we need to continue patrolling, there's a lot going on today," John said as he handed Luke a piece of paper filled with writing.

"Thanks, I'll treat you to a drink sometime."

"I've heard Mazek's liquor is good, I've never been there myself."

Luke smiled, "Next time, I'll take you there."

John bid farewell and left.

Luke opened the note and checked its contents.

Name, Orty Dean

Although previously unaware of her surname, at least her first name was genuine.

From this, it seemed that this woman likely bore him no great malice.

Pondering from another perspective, if Luke were to deal with someone, he wouldn't just hide his surname; he'd change his first name, too.

Luke continued reading, there were details about this woman's driving license and her detective license.

Pinkerton Detective Agency.

This agency had a history of over a hundred years, founded by Allen Pinkerton.

During the Civil War, Pinkerton and his detectives served the nation, creating an organization for Lincoln's Northern Federal Army dedicated to gathering military intelligence about the southern secessionist forces, which later became the precursor to the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Luke had heard of the reputation of this detective agency but was not very familiar with its more recent circumstances.

However, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. As a leading agency in this industry, even if it wasn't as powerful as before, it couldn't be too bad.

Luke recalled, considering that he hadn't offended anyone recently, why would someone hire a detective to investigate him?

If it was due to work, then it was hard to say; the police industry offended too many people.

Unable to figure it out, Luke decided not to think about it further; Los Angeles was his home turf, he would find an opportunity to meet this beautiful detective again.

Luke took out a lighter and burned the note.

[Congratulations host, you solved two murder cases, award 30 lottery chances; congratulations host for dismantling a counterfeit money printing base, award 20 lottery chances; congratulations host for timely rescuing George, preventing the LAPD from getting into trouble, award 20 lottery chances.]

A familiar voice rang in Luke's mind, totaling seventy lottery chances.

Lottery!

The pointer stopped, a note authentication card[Can quickly learn and understand note authentication skills within three hours]

Luke drew seventy times, winning a total of six cards.

Among them were three new cards, note authentication card, 3

and three old cards.

Adventure card, 1

Driving Skill Card, 2

Luke also won $64,000 US Dollars.

He gained a new skill, handwriting authentication.

Luke was not unfamiliar with this skill; he knew a bit in his past life but wasn't very proficient.

He was too busy with daily work; there wasn't time to delve into professional skills, but now it was different, Luke had study cards, making learning much more efficient.

This skill could be used not only in solving cases but also in identifying ancient texts.

Moreover, Luke now had a total of four Driving Skill Cards.

Luke's driving was pretty good, but certainly not comparable to a professional racer.

The driving skills required by the police are different from those of professional racers; police need to be able to track suspects and also block suspect vehicles, both of which are highly technical.

The former, if not skilled in driving, it's easy to lose track of the suspect vehicle.

As for intercepting, the level of danger is even higher; a slight mistake could lead to mutual destruction.

Very dangerous.

Therefore, practicing driving skills in advance is quite necessary.

...

Boayya Community.

This is a standard black community.

A taxi stopped at the curb, and Marcus got out.

Looking at the somewhat dilapidated houses ahead, this was his mother's house, and his home as well.

Marcus's current income was not bad, and he had been wanting to move his mother to a better community, but she was unwilling.

In her words, she was familiar with the environment here, and because of Marcus, the neighbors in the community respected her, moving to an unfamiliar community would make her uncomfortable.

Over the years, Marcus had his own job, his own life, and a girlfriend, reducing his visits here.

Now, Marcus faced the biggest dilemma and setback of his life, feeling lost and helpless, he didn't know how to solve it, or even how to face it.

He knew the pain of growing up in a single-parent family; he had experienced it and seen too much of it, and he didn't want his children to suffer the same plight.

He had despised and resented his father more than once, and he didn't want his future children to also resent him.

Oh, why must one have children?

Isn't it good to live freely?

"Hey, Marcus."

"Buddy, you're back!"

Neighbors and childhood friends greeted him.

Marcus forced a smile in response, then entered his home, "Mom, I'm back."

A black woman was sitting on the sofa watching TV, she turned around and said, "Marcus, why did you come back suddenly? Why didn't you call first?"

The black woman, Marcus's mother Betty.

"Uh... Mom, I bought your favorite fried chicken from the place you love," Luke placed the takeout on the coffee table.

Betty sniffed with her nose, "Mmm, still smells so good, I can never get enough of it."

Betty picked up a drumstick, took a bite, and glanced at Luke, "Why do you look so upset? What happened?"

"Uh... nothing really, you go ahead and eat."

"Marcus, I raised you, you can't fool me.

Why won't you talk?

Afraid I can't eat after hearing it?"

Luke gulped down a big sip of Coke, "I... just don't know how to start."

"What exactly happened? Did you take some money you shouldn't have?"

"No, I'm not short on money, I wouldn't do that."

Betty looked worried, "Are you sick?"

"I'm very healthy."

"Then what's there to worry about? Come on, tell me, I hate this anxious feeling." Betty finished a chicken leg, urging him.

"I... started dating a girlfriend a while back..."

"I know, Julian, you told me about her. I've seen her picture, she looks fine."

"She broke up with me not long ago."

"Why?"

"She wanted to get married, but I thought it was too early, I wasn't ready yet, wanted to wait, and she didn't want to, so she proposed we break up."

"That's not your fault, if two people aren't right for each other, even forcing a marriage won't make them happy.

It's her loss."

"I thought the same, but a few days ago, my partner went to a restaurant and saw Julian...

She's pregnant."

"Oh my god, is it yours?"

Luke nodded, looking somewhat uneasy, "I talked to her, she wants to keep the child and raise it alone. I know the difficulties involved, we've been through it, and I don't want my child to go through the same.

I want her to terminate the pregnancy, but she refused, I can't persuade her, and I don't know what to do?

Did I do something wrong?"

Betty touched Luke's cheek, "No, my child, you did nothing wrong.

Raising a child is not an easy task, and indeed it's not suitable to have children if not ready, as neither the adults nor the child would be happy.

This actually shows responsibility."

Luke breathed a sigh of relief, "Hearing you say that makes me feel much better."

"But, that girl... Julian isn't wrong either, she has the right to be a mother, just like I did back then, even though it was just me... I still chose to have you.

Our life wasn't affluent, we faced many difficulties, but I have never regretted.

Look at you now, so outstanding and successful, you are my greatest pride."

"Mom, thank you for everything.

Though I've never mentioned it, I know how hard it's been, that's also why I didn't want children."

"No no no, you only see the hard part, but your arrival also brought me a lot of joy, no matter how tough and busy everyday was, seeing you made it all worth it.

You gave me strength, gave me a new direction.

The best decision of my life was having you."

"Really?"

"Of course, I've always felt that way."

Luke's mood improved significantly, "If Julian insists on having the child, what do you think I should do?"

Betty said, "I hope you can take up the responsibility of a father."

"You want me to marry her?"

"That depends on your own thoughts, if you are thinking about marriage, I'm not against it.

If you're not thinking of marriage, then just pay child support on time, be part of the child's life, that too makes you a qualified father."

Luke sighed softly, suddenly recalling his own father...

Eight o'clock at night.

Luke had arranged to meet with George, and the two sat outside a barbecue restaurant in the Reed Community Plaza.

The table was covered with a variety of barbecue items.

George took a large gulp of chilled draft beer, "What did you need to see me for?"

"I made a decision today that might affect my whole life... You're my partner, and I felt I should tell you."

"I'll keep it a secret for you, is it a decision related to Julian?"

"Yes, I... I'm planning to pursue Julian again."

"Why?"

"I've always liked her, she doesn't have a boyfriend now, isn't it normal for me to pursue her again?"

"Is it because of the child?"

"That's part of it, I don't want the child to be born without a father...

I understand that feeling, I know that pain, and I don't want my own child to experience it again.

So...

I…" Luke took a deep breath, mustering his courage,

"want to marry Julian!"

In many Chinese concepts, if there's an accidental pregnancy during dating, marrying because of childbirth is quite normal, but in Los Angeles' Black community, it's different; marriage requires a lot of courage.

"Buddy, I don't have much experience in this area, nor can I offer much advice, but if you need anything, just say the word.

I will support you."

"Thanks, right now, I just need someone to talk to, to drink with properly."

George picked up his beer mug, "No problem, tonight we aren't going home sober."